Smoking case



E. G. SIMPSON SMOKING CASE May 31, 1932.

Filed Dec. 28, 1929 INVENTOR. {me cy G/enfims ir flpson ATTORNEY.

Patented May 31, 1932 UNETED STATES PATENT EMORY GLENN SIMPSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 TERNSTED'I MANU- FACTURING CGMPANY, 0F DETRQIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MTCHIEGAN SMOKING CASE Application filed December 28, 1929.

This invention relates to a smoking case which is particularly adapted for use in an automotive vehicle.

It is old in the art to provide a smoking case which contains both an electric lighting unit and an ash receptacle. This is shown in the patent to DeBoer 1,702,723. This lighting unit is of the type that requires merely a pressing downwardly of the lighting unit to make the proper contacts which in turn complete the electric circuit and make the resistance coil incandescent. Since such a smoking case is usually mounted along the side of the body where it can be readily reached by the passenger, it very commonly happens that the passenger unconsciously will use the smoking case as an arm rest, thereby pressing clownwardly the lighting unit and causing it to become incandescent which in turn burns the arm of the passengers coat or other wearing apparel.

It is the object of this invention to overcome this disadvantage and this has been achieved by making the lighting unit and switch distinct entities, mounting them in spaced relation upon the top plate of the casing, and locating the switch in such a posit ou relative to the lighting unit and edge of the casing that it is practically impossible for a passenger to rest his arm on the switch. and if the arm is rested upon the lighting unit, it in turn will be unable to operate the switch.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View showing the relative location of the lighting unit and the switch to the edge of the case.

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the resistance coil, battery, conducting wires, and switch. 7

Referring more particularly to the drawings. it will be seen that the smoking case consists of the unitary front and bottom plate 1. the top plate 2, and the back plate 3 which is arranged to be secured to a suitable support for the casing such as the side of a vehicle body. The top plate is apertured to receive the ash receivers l which extend Serial No. 417,060.

downwardly within the smoking case in the well-known manner.

The top plate is also arranged to carry a suitable lighting unit which consists of the outer shell portion 5 which is formed of any suitable heat-resisting substance. The shell 5 has mounted therein the resistance coil 6. The lighting unit 5 is removably mounted on the contact pole 7 and can be readily removed by the operator gripping the shell 5 with his fingers. The resistance coil 6 is connected to a suitable source of electric power such as a battery 8 in the manner diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3 by means of the conduction wires 9. The circuit set up between the battery 8 and the resistance coil 6 is controlled by a switch 10.

Since, as is now well-known by those versed in the art, it is customary to mount the combination lighting unit and ash receiving receptacle case on the inside of the body Where it can be conveniently reached by the passenger, the passenger either consci ously or unconsciously rests his arm thereupon. Hence, the problem has arisen of so constructing the combination smoking case that it will be impossible for the passenger, as he rests his arm upon the case, to throw on the switch, complete the contacts, heat up the resistance coil, and consequently burn his clothing. This disadvantage has been particularly present in the type of smoking case where the outer shell of the lighting unit need merely be pressed downwardly to form the contact and heat the resistance unit.

To overcome this difiiculty it is proposed to separate the switch from the lighting unit and place it relative to the lighting unit so that it will be impossible for the passenger to rest his arm on the lighting unit and at the same time throw on the switch or vice versa to rest his arm on the switch and at the same time on the lighting unit. In fact, the switch is so located relative to the lighting unit and the edge of the smoking case, which form a corner for the switch, that it will be impossible for a passenger to rest his arm upon the switch and unconsciously make the electrical contact for heating the resistance unit.

The switch, which has been generally designated 10, is preferably of the well-known push button type having a push button 11 which may be pressed downwardly within its casing 12 against the tension of a spring to form the contact between the conducting wires 9 to complete the circuit between the battery and the resistance element. The switch 10 is located substantially in the position shown in the drawings which are nearly full size, that is, between the outer edge 13 of the top plate and the shell 5 of the lighting unit. The distance between the outer shell 5 and the edge 13 of the top plate in actual practice is about three-quarters of an inch, but this distance can be varied to suit requirements. In actual practice the shell 5 extends substantially one inch above the uppermost projection of the button 11, but this also can be varied to suit conditions, the point being that the portion of the top plate between the shell 5 and the edge 13 of the plate cooperates with the shell 5 to form a corner in which is located and shielded from the arm of the passenger, the switch 10.

' Hence, owing to the fact that the resistance coil 6 is situated sutficiently above the button 11 and that the button 11 is sufliciently adjacent the base of the outer shell 5, it will be impossible for the arm of the passenger to rest simultaneously upon the resistance coil and the button 11. Therefore, it will be impossible for the passenger to unconsciously throw on the switch to heat the resistance coil and burn his arm or clothing. In fact,

" if the passenger has on the ordinary cloth wearing apparel, his clothing will not engage the button 11 when his arm is rested upon the shell 5 and in case the apparel is unusually soft and/or flufly as in the case of fur, it will engage the button 11 with insuflicient pres sure to actuate itand form the contacts for heating the resistance element.

What I claim is:

1. A combination lighter and ash receiving smoking case for a vehicle body comprising in combination an outer casing arranged to be secured with its back to a wall of the vehicle body, a lighter unit including an outer shell and a resistance coil carried by the top plate of the said casing and spaced inwardly from the outer edge of the top plate a distance insufficient to permit that portion of the top plate between the lighting unit and the outer edge of the top plate to serve as an arm rest, the said lighting unit arranged to be operatively connected to a source of electricity, and a switch mounted on the top plate between the lighting unit and the outer edge of the top plate arranged to make and break the circuit between the said lighting unit and the source of electric power whereby the switch is shielded from any pressure of the arm of the passenger when the said smoking case is used as an arm rest.

2. A combination lighter and ash receiving smoking case for a vehicle body comprising in combination an outer casing arranged to be secured with its back to a wall of the vehicle body, a lighting unit including an outer shell and a resistance coil carried by the top plate of the said casing and arranged to be connected with a source of electricity, the said outer shell oi? the lighting unit projecting substantially above and cooperating with the top plate of the casing to form a corner, a switch for making and breaking the circuit between the lighting unit and the source of electricity carried by the top plate in the said corner whereby the said switch is shielded against pressure exerted by the arm of the passenger when the said smoking case is used as an arm rest.

3. A combination lighter and ash receiving smoking case for a vehicle body comprising in combination an outer casing arranged to be secured with its back to a "all. of the vehicle body, a lighting unit including an outer shell and a resistance coil carried by the top plate of the said casing and arranged to be connected with a source of electricity, the said shell of the lighting unit projecting substantially above and cooperating with the top plate of the casing to form a corner, a switch including a push button substantially flush with the top of the casing for making and breaking the circuit between the lighting unit and the source of electricity carried by the top plate in the said corner whereby the said switch is shielded against pressure exerted by the arm of the passenger when the said smoking case is used as an arm rest.

4. A combination lighter and ash receiving smoking case for a vehicle body comprising in combination an outer casing arranged to be secured with its back to a wall of the vehicle body, a lighting unit including an outer shell and a resistance coil carried by the top plate of the said casing and arranged to be connected with a source of electricity, the said onter shell of the lighting unit projecting substantially above and cooperating with the top plate of the casing to form a corner, a switch of the type having a button and a spring for resisting the actuation of said button for making and breaking the circuit between the lighting unit and the source of electricity carried by the top plate in the said corner whereby the arm of the passenger when the smoking case is used as an arm rest cannot simultaneously actuate the switch and rest on the resistance coil.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

EMORY GLENN SIMPSON. 

